Shelf display device

ABSTRACT

A shelf device for displaying miscellaneous items partitioned in an organized manner. The device comprising a board of a predetermined material having a top surface, bottom surface, a rear end, a front edge, rear edge, and a pair of side edges. A ridge extending upward from along the front edge of the board. A predetermined number of dividers slideably placed on the top surface of the board to move laterally in a side to side manner. Each divider having a front hook member formed on the front end hooking onto the ridge and a rear hook member formed on the rear end of each divider hooking onto the rear end of the board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a display device, more particularly, this invention relates to a device for serving as a shelf for displaying miscellaneous merchandise thereon in an organized manner.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Merchandise, especially free-standing items are typically displayed on shelves. Different items can be placed on a shelf side-by-side in sections according to the type of items, or the different items can be placed on the same shelf partitioned by placing a partition plate or board on the shelf. Different types of partition systems are known in the prior art. A type of partition systems has a shelf having a series of slots placed laterally along each of the front edge and back edge of the shelf. Then, one or more partition plates or rails each having a front peg and back peg are placed onto the shelf by inserting the pegs into a corresponding front and back slot. A disadvantage in this type of partition systems is that the distance between partition plates is limited by both the quantity of and distance between the front slots and also the quantity of and distance between the back slots. Other shelf system have partition plates or rails without front and back pegs; but instead, have portions of the plates or rails which fit into slots formed along the lateral edge of the shelf for spacing of the plates or rails. None of the shelf system in the prior art teaches the device as taught in the present invention.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shelf device which has an improved capability to separate partitioning dividers at desired intervals. It is another object of the present invention to provide a shelf device having partitioning dividers which slides back and forth along the shelf with relative ease. Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelf device which is relatively easy to manufacture and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a shelf device for displaying miscellaneous items partitioned in an organized manner. The device comprising a board of a predetermined material having a top surface, bottom surface, a rear end, a front edge, rear edge, and a pair of side edges. A ridge extends upward from along the front edge of the board extending from one side edge to the other side edge. A predetermined number of dividers are placed on the top surface of the board by a front hook member formed on the front end and a rear hook member formed on the rear end of each divider. The hook member formed at the front end hooks onto the ridge, and the hook member formed at the rear end hooks onto the rear end of the board. The hook members are sized and shaped so that the divider can slide laterally from side to side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shelf display device;

FIG. 2 is front elevational view of the shelf display device; and,

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the shelf display device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a display device 10 for displaying miscellaneous items thereon in an organized manner. The device comprises a board 12 of predetermined material. The material of the board is not a limiting factor; however, the board 12 should preferably be relatively rigid and durable. The board 12 has a top surface 15, bottom surface 17, a rear end 18, a front edge 20, rear edge 21, and a pair of side edges 23. The top surface 15 as shown in the illustrations is flat, and a ridge 25 extends upward from along the front edge 20 of the board 12 extending from one side edge 23 to the other side edge 23. The ridge 25 has a front surface 27 and a back surface 28 and a top end 30. The ridge 25 as shown in the illustration is essentially flat and straight in extending across the front edge 20. The ridge 25 extends upward for a predetermined height depending on the requirements of the user in terms of the item displayed on the board 12 and angle in which the board 12 will be displayed. The ridge 25 can be formed by attaching an elongated strip of durable material upwards from the front edge of the board 12, or equivalently by bending the front portion of the board 12 upwards to form the ridge 25.

The illustrations show two dividers 33 placed on the board 12 extending from the rear edge 21 to the front edge 20. Each divider 33 is placed on the top surface 15 and is mounted to slide interchangeably back and forth laterally across the top surface 15 from one side edge 23 to the other side edge 23. To accomplish the sliding movement, the divider 33 has a front hook member 35 formed towards the front end of the divider 33 that hooks over the ridge 25 and a rear hook member 37 formed at the rear end of the divider 33 that hooks onto the rear end 18 of the board 12. The divider 33 shown in the embodiment shown is a flat elongated plate. Although two dividers 33 are shown in the illustrations, one or more dividers can be placed on the board depending on the preference of the user.

For improved sliding of each divider 33 on the board 12, the rear edge 21 of the board 12 in the embodiment shown is straight from one side edge 23 to the other side edge 23. In addition, the surface of the rear end 18 of the board 12 is curved between the top surface 15 and bottom surface 17 of the board 12. The rear hook member 37 has a curved inner surface 40 at the area overlapping the rear end 18 of the board 12 for a contoured fit. Also for improved sliding of each divider 33, the top end 30 of the ridge 25 is curved between the front surface 25 and back surface 28 from one side edge 23 to the other side edge 23. Correspondingly, the front hook member 35 has a curved inner surface 44 at the area overlapping the top end 30 of the ridge 25 for slideably engaging the curved top 30 end of the ridge 25. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment having a protruding member 47 extending downward from the bottom surface 17 of the board 12, which serves to elevate the rear portion of the board 12.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated for purposes of clarity and example, it should be understood that many changes, substitutions and modifications to the described embodiment will be apparent to those having skill in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention which is defined by the claims which follow. 

1. A display device comprising: a board of predetermined material having a top surface, bottom surface, a rear end, a front edge, rear edge, and a pair of side edges; a ridge extending upward from along the front edge of said board; at least one divider slideably disposed on the top surface of the board, said divider having a front hook member disposed towards the front end of said divider, said front hook member hooking over said ridge; and, a rear hook member formed at the rear end of the divider for hooking onto the rear end of said board.
 2. The display device as described in claim 1 wherein said divider is an elongated flat plate.
 3. The display device as described in claim 1 wherein said rear edge of said board is straight from one side edge to the other side edge, and wherein the surface of the rear end of the board is curved between the top surface and bottom surface.
 4. The display device as described in claim 3 wherein said rear hook member has a curved inner surface at the area overlapping the rear end of the board for slideably engaging the curved surface of the rear end of the board.
 5. The display device as described in claim 1 wherein said ridge has a front surface and a back surface and a top end, and wherein said top end of the ridge is curved between said front surface and back surface of said ridge.
 6. The display device as described in claim 5 wherein said front hook member has a curved inner surface at the area overlapping the top end of the ridge for slideably engaging the curved top end of the ridge.
 7. A display device comprising: a board of predetermined material having a top surface, bottom surface, a rear end, a front edge, rear edge, and a pair of side edges; a ridge extending upward from along the front edge of said board; at least one divider slideably disposed on the top surface of the board extending from the rear edge to the ridge, said divider having a front portion shaped and formed for hooking slideably onto the ridge; and, said divider having a rear portion shaped and formed for hooking slideably onto the rear end of said board.
 8. The display device as described in claim 7 wherein said divider is an elongated flat plate.
 9. The display device as described in claim 7 wherein said rear edge of said board is straight from one side edge to the other side edge, and wherein the surface of the rear end of the board is curved between the top surface and bottom surface.
 10. The display device as described in claim 9 wherein said rear portion of said divider has a curved inner surface at the area of overlapping the rear end of the board for slideably engaging the curved surface of the rear end of the board.
 11. The display device as described in claim 7 wherein said ridge has a front surface and a back surface and a top end, and wherein said top end of the ridge is curved between said front surface and back surface of the ridge.
 12. The display device as described in claim 11 wherein said front portion of said divider has a curved inner surface at the area overlapping the top end of the ridge for slideably engaging the curved top end of the ridge.
 13. A display device comprising: a board of predetermined material having a top surface, bottom surface, a rear end, a front edge, rear edge, and a pair of side edges; a ridge extending upward from along the front edge of said board; at least one divider slideably disposed on the top surface of the board extending from the rear edge to the ridge, said divider having a front portion shaped and formed for hooking slideably onto the ridge, said divider having a rear portion shaped and formed for hooking slideably onto the rear end of said board, said divider placed to slide back and forth between said side edges of said board; said rear edge of said board is straight from one side edge to the other side edge; said rear end of the board has a surface that is curved between the top surface and bottom surface; and, said ridge has a front surface and a back surface and a top end, said top end of the ridge is curved between said front surface and back surface of the ridge.
 14. The display device as described in claim 13 wherein said divider is an elongated flat plate.
 15. The display device as described in claim 13 wherein said rear portion of said divider has a curved inner surface at the area overlapping the rear end of the board for slideably engaging the curved surface of the rear end of the board.
 16. The display device as described in claim 13 wherein said front portion of said divider has a curved inner surface at the area overlapping the top end of the ridge for slideably engaging the curved top end of the ridge. 